Chapter 160: Mercy Has No Place at the Helm of an Army: Zhao Xing's Choice

Xi'er Juncheng, the Inspectorate.

Chen Shijie landed the Arrowfish flying vessel on the square of the Inspectorate.

The first place of descent was not the Agricultural Bureau, but the Inspectorate—this was at Zhao Xing's request.

He had to carry out an inspection mission, and naturally had to go through the Inspectorate first.

Besides, the mission involved a considerable number of people; he alone could not handle it, and he had to mobilize the Inspectorate's forces.

When disembarking, Chen Shijie and Long Xiao both looked rather grim, because just from seeing where Zhao Xing had come first, they knew this time the problem would not be small.

If it were only dozens or a hundred people of low rank, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao alone would have been enough to act, with no need to borrow the Inspectorate's strength.

"Are you really coming here as your first stop?" Just as he was about to step into the Inspectorate, Long Xiao could not help saying, "Is there anything you can't discuss with the Marquis first?"

"Long Xiao!" Chen Shijie said in a low voice, "Don't disturb him. The Marquis will understand."

The "Grand Inspector" of the Inspectorate, Qiu Mingyi, held a rank of Upper Fifth Grade.

His Upper Fifth Grade post was not subject to the oversight of Marquis Boping Yang An—this position existed precisely to monitor the army's internal affairs.

Apart from Yang An, whom he could not oversee, if any other military officer committed unlawful acts, the Inspectorate had the right to arrest and prosecute. During wartime, the Inspectorate also served as the law-enforcement guard.

Of course, unless it was treason, if the Inspectorate wanted to deal with a military commander, it still had to consult Yang An's opinion.

The Inspectorate had always been disliked by the soldiers. Basically every few years, the Inspectorate's personnel had to be rotated out, and when leaving their posts they had to sneak away to avoid being beaten up by the troops.

Grand Inspector Qiu Mingyi had also only been in office for one year, and his relationship with Yang An was fairly harmonious. The previous internal cleanups had basically been carried out by Yang An himself; Qiu Mingyi had merely assisted, providing some interrogation and inspection work.

When he learned that Zhao Xing's first stop was the Inspectorate, he immediately came out in person to receive him.

Because Zhao Xing's Arrowfish flying vessel now flew the Ten Suns Banner of the Soldier Realm. A genius who had received such a mission—no matter what came before or after—

at this stage, they were like imperial envoys, representing the will of the Soldier Realm, or on a larger scale, the will of Emperor Jing.

"Go invite Zhao Xing to the main hall for an audience." Qiu Mingyi ordered, "Summon all Inspectors of Third Rank and above from every division back to Juncheng and hold them in readiness."

"Also, go to the Divine Temple and notify Army Priest Ma Dezhu. Have him bring a squad of priests and escort the two law-enforcing divine statues, Fan Wujiu and Xie Hou Bian, over here."

"Bring out the Qilin Treading the Seas robe and the Chaotian Que-plumed cap. This official is going to bathe and change."

Qiu Mingyi was in high spirits, issuing a flurry of orders to his servants.

He had originally been lounging leisurely under a grape trellis drinking wine, but the moment he heard Zhao Xing had arrived, he was suddenly invigorated, and even unconsciously licked his lips.

He fully understood what signal Zhao Xing's first stop at the Inspectorate was sending.

"Kill, kill, kill—this official wants to see rivers of blood!" A glint of excitement flashed in Qiu Mingyi's eyes. "I've prepared the sharp blade for you, boy. Don't disappoint this official."

During this past year, Qiu Mingyi had done nothing but drink. After Yang An regained the position of commander-in-chief, there was much he could only watch. In Qiu Mingyi's view, Yang An's blade was still not ruthless enough, the rotten flesh not scraped clean enough. If the Inspectorate had been allowed to investigate thoroughly, far more than just that handful would have died.

Now that Zhao Xing had come, his arrival meant he certainly held evidence of major crimes, and the ranks and numbers involved for a genius like him would not be low.

Two quarter-hours later, the main hall of the Inspectorate.

"This subordinate Zhao Xing pays his respects to Lord Qiu." Zhao Xing bowed to Qiu Mingyi. This Grand Inspector was also one of the assessors for this first-stage mission.

After he completed the first stage, Qiu Mingyi's evaluation would carry great weight.

"Zhao Xing, you have come to the Inspectorate to pay your respects to this official—what is the matter?" Qiu Mingyi asked.

"By order of the Soldier Realm, I have come to rectify unlawful matters in Xi'er Jun." Zhao Xing got straight to the point. "I request the Inspectorate to assist this subordinate."

"Oh? How many personnel do you wish to mobilize, and how many are implicated?" Qiu Mingyi asked.

In fact, the moment Zhao Xing stepped through the door, he had already received the intelligence simultaneously. His questioning now was merely to see how much Zhao Xing was willing to submit.

Zhao Xing understood this as well. As long as he came to handle this matter, and as long as Yang An did not interfere, these people were as good as dead. The only difference was whether he did it himself, or the Inspectorate's people did it.

"A total of 1,423 members are implicated in unlawful activities. This subordinate requires the full mobilization of the Inspectorate, and it would be best to request the Army Divine Temple to coordinate the operation." Zhao Xing produced a list. "This is the roster of those implicated."

"Good. Investigating unlawful acts is the Inspectorate's duty. This official will seal off all information and place all personnel entirely at your disposal!" Qiu Mingyi said. "This is the order of the Grand Inspector. Once you hold this order, every member of this office will obey your commands."

"Additionally, Lord Ma Dezhu of the Army Divine Temple will arrive at the Inspectorate within one shichen to coordinate with you."

"Many thanks, my lord." Zhao Xing cupped his hands in salute, then immediately took the Grand Inspector's order and withdrew from the hall.

Outside the hall, when Chen Shijie and Long Xiao saw Zhao Xing emerge holding the Grand Inspector's order, their scalps instantly went numb; even Chen Shijie's pupils contracted.

Zhao Xing, meanwhile, holding the Grand Inspector's order, began moving through the various divisions, drawing up an arrest plan.

"First Division Inspector—arrest Captain of Changshui Hong Tai, Captain of Zhonglei Qi Shan…"

"Second Division Inspector—arrest Fan Geng, He Cheng…"

"Third Division Inspector—"

Long Xiao, as Zhao Xing's Dao-protector, stayed at his side. As for Chen Shijie, he remained in a side hall of the Inspectorate drinking tea to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Upon hearing Zhao Xing read out that long string of names, Long Xiao's eyes instantly went wide.

Once the orders were issued, figures shot up into the air from every corner of the Inspectorate, tearing through the night sky.

Seeing that Long Xiao looked troubled, Zhao Xing immediately asked, "Why don't you go rest for a while."

Long Xiao said miserably, "How could I possibly sleep now? Several of the people you just reported are brothers who shared life and death with me and Old Chen."

"That was six years ago," Zhao Xing said calmly. "Now, are you still certain they are your brothers? When you met them again, did you sense something different?"

Long Xiao fell silent. As a sword cultivator, his Sword Heart was luminous and clear. When he had gradually run into old acquaintances over the past year, he had indeed been able to sense a change in his brothers, but he had been unwilling to think along those lines.

"Can you tell me—do they still have any hope of being saved?"

Zhao Xing was silent.

The fact that his first stop was here meant his choice was absolutely not compromise or a muddled middle ground.

Killing one person offends people; killing a thousand also offends people.

As long as one does this kind of work, there can never be any perfect plan.

Unless Zhao Xing was willing to ruin his own future and pass lenient sentences on everyone.

But that was simply impossible.

With no kin or ties, why would Master Zhao ruin his future for this human trash?

"Let me tell you the truth."

"Without me, they were doomed anyway." Zhao Xing said. "The Soldier Realm had long been gathering evidence of these men's crimes; it was only because the investigation was only now complete that they launched the operation all at once—unless…"

"Unless the Marquis protected them, yes?" Long Xiao's face showed a glimmer of hope. "Right, no matter how powerful Qiu Mingyi is, he's not as powerful as the Marquis."

Zhao Xing shook his head and said: "Hong Tai, current Changshui Captain of the Divine Might Army, rank 7b. Formerly served five years as the Fields Official of Tao County in Xi'er Juncheng, returned to the Divine Might Army after its reorganization. Crimes committed: rape of fourteen persons, forced five to death; after the Marquis of Boping was reinstated and reassigned, to cover his crimes, he murdered the families of all fourteen victims."

"Qi Shan, current Zhonglei Captain of the Divine Might Army, rank 7a, formerly served three years as the Pinghuai Official of Fubu County in Xi'er Juncheng, privately set up checkpoints, accepted bribes totaling 3.42 million taels from merchant guilds of other regions."

Long Xiao's face went pale, his eyes blazing: "How could these bastards be so, so—"

Seeing this, Zhao Xing did not continue reading.

Yes, the Marquis of Boping could protect these men, but if he did so, it would prove him too merciful!

Mercy does not command troops; strict military discipline—this was the basis for Zhao Xing's actions this time.

If Yang An truly protected those scoundrels, Zhao Xing would pay whatever price it took to flee and seek service under another master.

Because this was not what he understood—lax military discipline, how could such a person later build such illustrious fame?

Then he must have remembered wrong, or something had gone wrong with Yang An in this life.

In short, it was not only the imperial court and the Divine Might Army observing Zhao Xing through this phase of the mission.

Zhao Xing was also observing whether the Divine Might Army's ship was worth boarding.

Although he was optimistic about Old Chen and felt Old Chen suited his temperament, ultimately the Divine Might Army was commanded by Yang An.

Xi'er Juncheng, Changshui military camp.

Hong Tai was holding a ceremonial staff, armored, patrolling the camp.

Night patrol was not normally something a Captain like him would do, but for some reason today he felt especially uneasy.

"Is something wrong with the Lanjiang? But I haven't sensed any shift in the seasonal nodes, and the phenological changes are only the ordinary four-season transitions."

"Liu Ming, prepare a flying boat for me, I'm going to inspect the Lanjiang!"

Hong Tai shouted to his guard.

But no one responded.

The night was still, a bright moon rose—but that moon was behind the head of a dark-gold figure.

"Judicial Yin God Fan Wujiu?!"

Hong Tai's goosebumps rose, he gave a sudden shudder, and a foreboding premonition welled up in his heart.

A flying boat really did come, but it came from outside.

"Men from the Inspectorate, and they even brought the Military God Palace's Judicial Yin God?!" Hong Tai's unease had now reached its peak.

It was the feeling of one's sins having nowhere to hide, making him want to flee.

But Hong Tai forcibly held himself back.

"Changshui Captain, greetings to the Judicial Yin God, greetings to all Inspectors." Hong Tai dropped to one knee. "May I ask what business brings you all to my Changshui camp?"

"Hong Tai, you are suspected of rape and murder; fourteen persons' entire families were wiped out." An Inspector said coldly. "By order of the Grand Inspector, we have come to take you. Submit and be bound."

Hong Tai's heart skipped a beat; the moment the other side stated the precise number fourteen, he knew this could no longer be concealed.

"Damnable, who is slandering me? I want to see the Marquis!"

"You'll have your chance to see the Marquis of Boping when we reach the Inspectorate."

At the same time, Zhonglei military camp.

Qi Shan was also bound by a rope of Jin Guang, struggling on the ground.

"Slander, this is slander! I want to see the Marquis of Boping!"

Qi Shan shouted loudly.

Throughout the various camps of Xi'er Juncheng, large numbers of Inspectors appeared simultaneously; they all appeared suddenly and struck with precision.

In one night, voices rang out everywhere.

Some refused to confess to the death; others confessed openly and without ceremony.

"I merely embezzled a batch of military grain, but that was old business from the thirteenth year of Jingxin. I will naturally go to the Marquis to admit my fault and pay the fine!"

"This official is on duty; the Inspectorate's investigation can come back in three days—what?! An order from the Grand Inspector?!"

Others tried to flee.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"

Zhao Xing stood on the flying boat, withdrew his fingertip, and ahead a figure fell from midair—it was a Nine-Section Commander.

He had also followed one of the teams to a certain military camp; when the Inspector announced the arrest, this Military Agronomist appeared to submit, but when he knelt he actually tried to burrow underground to escape.

Whether because the earlier executions had gone too smoothly, or because this team's strength was slightly lacking, taken off guard, the man really did burrow down.

But immediately, the man was bounced back up from underground by the Boundless Earth Palace, his burrowing art broken.

He was then killed by Zhao Xing with the Dripping Rain technique.

"Fire Line Camp Commander Zhang Ze refused to comply with the order and has already been executed; Fire Line Camp is temporarily taken over by Deputy Commander Huang Ming."

Zhao Xing's voice spread outward to the surroundings.

He then rolled up the corpse and brought it onto the flying boat.

The accompanying Inspector broke out in a cold sweat, cupped his hands to Zhao Xing: "This subordinate failed in his duty."

"No matter." Zhao Xing said lightly, "The intelligence was wrong; his strength had advanced. Return to Juncheng."

"Yes."

The operation began at night and ended at the Mao hour of the following day.

One quarter past the Wu hour.

Zhao Xing sat in the first seat on the left beneath the Inspectorate hall, listening to an Inspector report the situation.

"Reporting to my lord, all teams of the various departments returned at the Mao hour, 1,423 persons, not one missed; among them 57 resisted arrest and were executed on the spot."

"After joint interrogation by the Military God Palace and the Inspectorate, the remaining 1,366 persons all confessed."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly upon hearing this.

At this time, the intelligence provided by the Great Zhou military realm was still very reliable. Although there were individual cases where actual strength differed slightly from the intelligence, the gap was not large, and the criminal evidence was ironclad—regardless of whether they confessed or not, the outcome was the same.

Qiu Mingyi looked down and said: "Zhao Xing, these people have all confessed. How to deal with them is entirely up to you to decide. You may show leniency in light of their past merits—after all, you are a man of the Divine Might Army."

Zhao Xing's face was expressionless. This old coot, acting as an assessor, had given him yet another test. This was clearly a large-scale crackdown; it wasn't only the Divine Might Army conducting self-inspection—every other army was carrying out the same action. And here he was suggesting leniency?

He rose and bowed to Qiu Mingyi: "Yes, thank you, my lord, for the reminder."

Zhao Xing took the review roster from the person reporting below. The remaining 1,366 people had all been sorted into tiers and laid out before him.

Now, as long as Zhao Xing checked names on the roster, he could immediately decide these people's life or death.

Zhao Xing picked up the roster and pretended to browse through it thoughtfully.

"The remaining 1,366 people, according to intelligence gathered by the military realm, are all guilty of grave crimes and capital offenses."

"In this special period, heavy laws must be applied—grave crimes shall be treated as capital offenses!"

Zhao Xing paused, then, under Qiu Mingyi's startled gaze, closed the document directly.

He then used the Execution Token to write the character for 'execute' on the cover of the document.

"All 1,366 people are to be executed—carried out immediately!"

There is one more chapter, but it's very late. Everyone doesn't need to stay up for it.